Summary of Legislation Affecting
Internet Gun Sales
in the 106th Congress
This page summarizes two companion bills:
| This page was last udpated on May 12, 1999. |
S 637, The Internet Gun Trafficking Act of 1999.
Sponsor. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY). Cosponsors: Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Harry Reid (D-NV).
Summary. S 637 IS would not ban the sale of guns over the Internet. It would create a new regulatory framework that would ban anyone other than federally licensed gun dealers from conducting Internet gun sales, give new rule making authority to the Treasury Department, and set up a complicated set of procedures to be followed for non inventory sales.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Schumer, has built his political career on advocating gun control legislation. He explained his reasons for introducing this bill in a statement in the Congressional Record.
"The Internet affords computer users--including children and felons--easier-than-ever access to individuals offering firearms for sale. It also facilitates firearms transactions in which sellers and buyers need not meet face-to-face. For these reasons, individuals who are legally prohibited from purchasing or selling firearms can turn to the Internet to find others willing to engage in gun transactions with them--either knowing or not knowing of the illegality of such transactions. Unlike firearms sales at gun dealerships and even gun shows, illegal Internet firearms sales occur 'sight unseen,' thus presenting significant enforcement challenges for federal, state and local authorities."
The bill would provide that "It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an Internet website, if a purpose of the website is to offer 1 or more firearms for sale or exchange, or is to otherwise facilitate the sale or exchange of 1 or more firearms posted or listed on the website, unless the person is licensed as a manufacturer, importer, or dealer under section 923."
The bill would also require the website to disclose whatever information to the Treasury Department that the Department requires by regulation.
Finally, for sales of firearms that are not a part of the seller's inventory (that is, arranging sales between two other parties) there is a long and complicated set of procedures to be followed.
Status. S 637 was introduced on March 16, 1999. No action has been taken.
Legislative History with Links to Related Materials.
HR 1245, The Internet Gun Trafficking Act of 1999.
Sponsor. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL). Cosponsors: Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Howard Berman (D-CA), Del. Donna Christensen (D-VI), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), George Miller (D-CA), John LaFalce (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Del. Eleanor Norton (D-DC), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Stephanie Jones (D-OH), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Danny Davis (D-IL), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Thomas Barrett (D-WI).
Summary. HR 1245 IH is the House version of Sen. Schumer's bill, S 647. Rep. Rush explained his bill in a statement on the House floor:
"... right now gun sales take place on the Internet with no checks and balances. An illegal gun dealer can simply have his name, address, and telephone number listed on a web site, making himself available for contact by an unlicensed gun purchaser. These transactions can be executed without being subjected to any Federal regulations. Most of these sales go on unbeknownst to Federal authorities. We have to close this gun trafficking loophole on the Internet today ..."
Status. HR 1245 was introduced on March 24, 1999.
Legislative History with Links to Related Materials.